Vietnamese trade office in Netherlands raises alert about online fraud

The Vietnam Trade Office in the Netherlands has warned of online fraud cases, particularly those relating to petroleum products amid increasing demand for these products.

Fraudsters often create fake websites with fabricated information or counterfeit websites impersonating legitimate import-export companies or companies providing petroleum storage tank services whose contact information is usually a mobile phone number or an internet phone number.

The agency advised Vietnamese businesses to be cautious and ensure they are only engaging in transactions with reputable partners. It noted that reputable businesses provide full contact information on their websites, including a landline phone number and an email in the format of info@.

The payment method commonly used in petroleum trading transactions is through a letter of credit (L/C), according to the Office.

It has provided information relating to online fraud and a list of counterfeit websites compiled by the port authority of Rotterdam, which is continuously updated and can be accessed at https://ferm-rotterdam.nl/en/blacklist.